SALT LAKE CITY — Use of deadly force in an officer-involved shooting in Salt Lake City last month was found legally justified, the Salt Lake County District Attorney’s Office reported Tuesday.
The suspect, Kuot Akol Ayat, survived his injuries. He was later booked into the Salt Lake County Jail.
The incident took place on June 20 at 11:59 p.m. in the area of 210 S. Rio Grande Street. Salt Lake Police Sgt. Wooldridge told investigators he he was close to completing his shift for the day and was uploading his body camera to his laptop in his patrol car.
As he began driving back to police station Wooldridge told investigators he saw a woman being followed by a man, later identified as Ayat.
Wooldridge heard the woman scream and saw Ayat, threaten her with a knife. Wooldridge told investigators he stopped, got out of his car and ordered Ayat to drop the knife but he did not comply, officials say. Ayat reportedly came at Wooldridge with the knife.
“Sgt. Wooldridge fired two shots, which hit Mr. Ayat; Mr. Ayat was transported to the hospital and survived his injuries,” according to the DA’s office.
The shooting was determined justified after conducting a routine Officer Involved Critical Incident review.
